This European Standard applies to efficient particulate air filters (EPA) high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) and ultra low penetration air filters (ULPA) used in the field of ventilation and air conditioning and for technical processes, e. g. for clean room technology or applications in the nuclear and pharmaceutical industry. It establishes a procedure for the determination of the efficiency on the basis of a particle counting method using a liquid (or alternatively a solid) test aerosol, and allows a standardized classification of these filters in terms of their efficiency, both local and overall efficiency. This European Standard describes the measuring instruments and aerosol generators used in the course of this testing. With regard to particle counting it specifies the statistical basis for the evaluation of counts with only small numbers of counted events.